BakeSpace.com Member Forums

[EmmaC]

Hi, all,

I'm doing a Portuguese/Brazillian themed Christmas Eve dinner--does anyone have any good recipes or dishes they would recommend from those regions? I think I'll do a spiced roast chicken for the main course, but need a few vegetarian side dishes. Also, any fabulous drink recommendations?!

Thanks!
Emma

[demartino]

I see you're from Boston; my home originally. Big Portuguese/Brazilian community there.

Try making a Caipirinha; it's a Brazilian drink made with cachaca, which is made from sugar cane. Here check out this recipe:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_30629,00.html?rsrc=search

It's a basic Caipirinha recipe from Emeril. They're simple to make. Superfine sugar or even confectioner's sugar dissolves quicker than regular sugar. And definitely muddle until the limes are barely recognizable - you want to get every last bit of flavor out of them. If you can't find cachaca (it's more available now, but still not widespread), try to use a white or silver rum, something colorless with a clean, bright taste. No dark or spiced rums.

Hope this helps in your holiday plans.

[EmmaC]